Stepparent Adoption; Biological Father Uninvolved or Unknown in Virginia
When a parent of a child marries or remarries, there are lots of changes that happen to create a new family dynamic. The stepparent may want to adopt his spouse's child as his own. There are several different situations in which adoption becomes the best decision for this newly formed family. There are, however, a few obstacles that could prevent this from being an uncomplicated process. I am often asked by people who are in long term relationships whether they can adopt the other partner's biological child. At present, if they were to do that, it would terminate the parental rights of the biological parent, which is not the goal. Under Virginia law, the couple has to marry in order for this adoption to add a parent, without subtracting the biological parent. Next, the child must be legally free for adoption. What does this mean? Under Virginia law, as in other states, you have to consider the parental rights of the other biological parent...